McGrew v. Nebraska Telephone Co.
McGrew v. Nebraska Telephone Co.
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff Avas listed in the October, 1917, issue of defendant’s directory in four Avays: (1) “Douglas 6345
By the joint user of 6345, above referred to, the plaintiff, McGrew, had general telephone service. By the described P. B. X. he could telephone or be telephoned to only in connection with the business of the Prairie Life Insurance Company. We hold this from the language of the contract, though plaintiff does not concede it. It remains to be explained that the plaintiff was at all times the medical director of said insurance company, and that in order to give him a station on its P. B. X. it was necessary to run a wire from the company’s suite, out and around other, offices, to 714 Keeline building, where plaintiff had his professional offices with Dr. Pollard, and joint user of Douglas 6345. This explains why plaintiff was shown in the above listings at both 714 and 735-40 of the building. It also indicates, as was. the fact, that he had two telephones in his room at 714, one of Avhich Avas in connection with 6345' and the other of Avhich was his P. B. X. connection with 2170 in the insurance company’s office.
Later in the fall, and before the issue of the February, 1918, telephone directory, Dr. McGreAV, having been made the president of the Prairie Life Insurance Company, as well as its medical director, gave up his office at 714 of the Keeline building and ordered out his two telephones
It appears that the defendant took and acted upon orders over the telephone for disqontinuances and reduction of service, though requiring, written verification for extensions and new business. It was doubtless figured that the work of reduction and discontinuance would by its very nature discover mistakes, if mistakes there were, and lead to their immediate correction. But, while the rule may have worked well in the main, it resulted in this case in the removal of both listings as well as both telephones, a matter of at least much irritation to the doctor, who had> upon the giving up of his office at 714, moved over to 735-40 and used a station on the P. B. X. of the Prairie Life for all of his business, .company and personal.
The change of service clerk at the telephone exchange took the message from the Prairie Life operator and is positive in her testimony that the latter ordered just what was done. Examination of her information forms and Avorlc orders (exhibits 13, 14, etc.) rather confirms than discredits her testimony in this regard. And the Prairie Life operator or stenographer does not testify in opposition — does not testify at all. True, Dr. McGrew testifies that he gave no order for such removal or listing. But he personally gave no order whatever to the defendant in connection Avith the removal of his telephones at 714. The order Avas given by the Prairie Life operator. It Avas according to his purpose that the two telephones be remoAred. In his brief he stands sponsor for that part of what the girl ordered. Such being the cfise, he should not be permitted, Ave think, to repudiate the remainder of her order. Reasonable men could not have concluded from the evidence adduced that the order for what the defendant did Avas not given upon the authority of the plaintiff.
It is quite possible that the plaintiff habitually used the telephone of his company for purposes of his own, unconnected with the business of the company of which he was the president. Employees and officers of corporations commonly do. But this is by sufferance, and can work no estoppel against the company furnishing the service, nor establish such persons in a right to said use. The plaintiff was not entitled to user or to listing in his. own behalf, and the denial of "the same by the defendant,, whether intentional or not, cannot be the basis of a recovery in his favor.
Taking this view of the case, it is quite immaterial that exhibit 21, the general supplemental tariff schedule, was received in evidence. We believe that the loAver court committed no error in directing a verdict for the defendant.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- William R. McGrew v. Nebraska Telephone Company
- Status
- Published